The most egregious example of this is Reagan using "Born in the USA" in 1984.
None of the boomers who voted for Reagan (or went to a Bruce concert) actually listened to the lyrics.
Here they are:
[Verse 1]
Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
'Til you spend half your life just coverin' up
[Chorus]
Born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A
Born in the U.S.A
[Verse 2]
Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man
[Chorus]
Born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A
[Verse 3]
Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says, "Son if it was up to me"
Went down to see my V.A. man
He said, "Son, don't you understand"
[Verse 4]
I had a brother at Khe Sanh
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now
[Verse 5]
Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go
[Chorus]
Born in the U.S.A
I was born in the U.S.A. now
Born in the U.S.A
I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A. now
Born in the U.S.A
Born in the U.S.A
Born in the U.S.A
I'm a cool rockin' Daddy in the U.S.A. now
Reportedly John Fogerty has obtained a "cease and desist" order requiring the Trump campaign
to stop using "Fortunate Son" at their campaign rallies.
Have these people ever listened to the lyrics; tax evasion, avoiding military service.etc.
The clown at the podium epitomizes all about which Fogerty wrote.
Maybe they should the words on the big screen with a picture of their leader.